Salman Khan‘s Sikandar faced tough competition at the box office recently, as Sunny Deol’s latest film Jaat opened to an impressive ₹9.5 crore in India on its first day, April 10. Though keenly awaited, Sikandar has been grappling to maintain its hold on audiences. On its twelfth day, the film’s earnings plummeted to ₹71 lakh, an 80.54 percent drop compared to the previous day, highlighting its box office struggles.
Jaat, directed by Gopichand Malineni, represents his Bollywood debut and has been well-received for its return to the ‘masala’ cinema formula, which many had lamented as missing from current Hindi films. Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh commented on X, endorsing Jaat’s appeal with a 3.5-star rating, noting it delivers big-screen entertainment that audiences crave. Similarly, Sumit Kadel hailed it as a “paisa vasool” mass entertainer, emphasizing its action and emotional depth.
The impressive performance of Jaat on its opening day made it challenging for Salman Khan’s Sikandar to continue thriving at the box office. While previous Salman Khan movies have typically opened to large numbers thanks to his substantial fanbase, Sikandar seems to be falling short in comparison. Randeep Hooda‘s portrayal of antagonist Rana Tunga in Jaat, supported by a robust cast including Regina Cassandra and Saiyami Kher, has been attracting viewers and applause.
Produced by Mythri Movie Makers, Zee Studio, and People Media Factory, Jaat features action-packed sequences and is available in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil, broadening its audience appeal. Sunny Deol’s film, with its cross-cultural presentation, judiciously blends contemporary storytelling with familiar genre elements, a formula perhaps contributing to its success.
While Sikandar’s struggle continues, driven perhaps by competing releases or changing viewer preferences, its box office performance stands as a reference point for future releases starring Salman Khan. Industry observers predict that the film’s outcome may influence decisions regarding future collaborations and release strategies.
